The Robotics & Flexible Machinery Tech Group is the organization for the people that know how to or want to learn how to combine robots and other equipment to create productive and profitable applications. The members are encouraged to create documents regarding specific skills of their profession for publication in the SME WIKI Knowledge Delivery System. The documents provide recognition of being a leader in their profession and assist others in gaining useful technical knowledge.

The documents can also be Case Study documents that describe equipment that has been placed in service and interesting aspects of the equipment and development process. These are intended to stimulate the thinking of others and spawn new applications created by our members

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ROBOT DEFINITIONS

An industrial robot is a pre-engineered, stationary, programmable motion device. A robot is combined with other equipment to perform a value added operation. The robot may be moving a tool, such as a spot weld unit, arc weld torch, adhesive dispenser or paint sprayer to a stationary or moving piece part. The robot may be moving a piece part to tool, such as a buffing wheel, de-flashing router or dipping tank. The robot may, instead, be moving a piece part from one location to another, such as, from a part dispenser to a lathe chuck, or from a mold to an inspection or assembly station. The robot's base may be mounted to the floor or inverted and attached to the underside of a raised supporting structure. The robot base may, instead, be mounted to a cart that moves on a precision mechanical track with the motion distance limited by the track length.

An industrial robot only moves, however, in a planned, limited area.
A service robot is a pre-engineered, mobile, programmable motion device that performs a selected task, such as holding a camera, cutting grass or probing suspicious items. The robot has the ability to roam within the limits of its control logic. The control logic may be provided via a tethered cable, radio broadcast or may be self-contained within the service robot.

A service robot is designed to move to un-prepared locations that may be on land, in the air, on water or underwater.

A social robot is a service robot with human characteristics and probably interacts with a human.

ROBOTIC INTEGRATION

Robotic Integration is combining a robot with other devices or components to create a piece of equipment that performs specific, limited tasks. The robot is usually a standard product that is commercially available from multiple manufacturers of robots. The robot usually has features or capabilities that are unique to it's manufacturer and each manufacturer usually produces multiple versions of robots that offer different capabilities regarding dexterity, reach and lifting capacity. The finished combination of equipment and programming can be called a "robot application".

The robot integrator is a person, team or organization that creates the robot application. The integrator is frequently a company that is independent of the robot end user and the robot manufacturer. As an alternative, the integrator may be a team within the end user organization. Robot manufacturers also usually offer integration services or assistance with locating a qualified integrator. The robot manufacturer or robot provider is usually responsible for the ability of the robot to perform as specified.

The robot integrator, however, is usually responsible for the ability of the robot application to perform the required tasks.

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ROBOTICS TECH GROUP GRAPHIC

The graphic on the Tech Group Home Page is a visual representation of our Group. Our members possess knowledge regarding many technologies. The members (you) and their knowledge enter our Tech Group. The Tech Group members create Technical Knowledge Documents and Case Study Documents. The members (you) grow by being members and associating with other members.